1. Some Definitions
catholic: Comes from the Greek κατὰ ὃλος (kata holos) which means
(small c) according to or for the whole. The expression means
Sometimes universal, that is, non-ethnic. This is the faith of the seven called Nicaean great councils. Almost all Christian Churches of the East Christianity and West hold to this faith. There are a few Western The term catholic Protestant denominations that do not hold to the Trinity was first used by (e.g. Oneness Pentecostal, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ignatius, Bishop Mormons). These churches are understood to be outside of Antioch in Christianity by Churches that do hold to the seven great CE councils. The same can be said of Eastern Christians who do not accept Jesus as fully human, fully divine. These churches (e.g. some Coptic Orthodox Church and some Armenian Orthodox Churches) hold to what is called Nestorianism
Catholic: Includes all catholic Christian churches up to, but not (big C) including, the time of the Reformation and beyond
Roman Catholic: Understood to be the Church governed by Bishops of the Roman Catholic churches in union with the Bishop of Rome. Also includes a number of national Churches that use other rites but are united with the Bishop of Rome
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2. The Seven Great Ecumenical Councils of Early Christianity (I)
Nicaea (325 CE) Declared Jesus to be homoousios (of the same being as the Father) not homoiosios (of a similar but not Main Point: the same being as the Father (Arianism). 50 copies of Jesus is fully the Christian scripture were also commissioned at divine. Arianism this council. The Council suggested that Easter
Is heretical should always be celebrated on a Sunday (1st Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox) and that it should always come after the Jewish Passover. It also declared that baptized Christians who apostatized but reconverted need not be rebaptized
Constantinople I Confirmed the Jesus was fully divine and stated that (381 CE) the Holy Spirit was likewise fully divine. Declared Main Points: that Apollinarianism (Jesus not fully human) was in Confirmed the error as was Sabellianism (The trinity comprised
Trinity, Jesus is fully three modes of one person rather than three persons)
human. Apollinarianism
and Sabellianism
are heretical
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3. The Seven Great Ecumenical Councils of Early Christianity (II)
Ephesus (431 CE)
Main Points: Declared that, in Jesus, two natures were
In Jesus two natures; perfectly joined in one person and that the
one human and one person that Mary brought into the world had
Divine, are perfectly a fully human nature and a fully divine nature
joined in the one joined in the one person. Mary was therefore
Person, Jesus. Mary Theotokos, God-Bearer, and could be called
can be said to be Holy Mary, Mother of God. Calling Mary the
Theotokos, mother Mother of God was making a statement about
of God. Nestorianism Jesus, not a statement about Mary. This
Is heretical. declaration countered Nestorianism which held that two persons were joined together in Jesus It confirmed the decision of the regional Council of Carthage regarding Pelagianism
Chalcedon (451 CE) Confirmed and further explained Ephesus and settled some organizational issues
Constantinople II Further explained and confirmed Ephesus and
(553 CE) declared some of the teachings of Origen regarding Jesus to be in error
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4. The Seven Great Ecumenical Councils of Early Christianity (III)
Constantinople III Declared that, since Jesus had a fully human (680/81 CE) nature and a fully divine nature perfectly united Declared in one person, Jesus had two wills (human and Monothelitism divine) and not the one will taught by the
heretical Monothelites
Nicaea II (787) Declared that, since Jesus was a human being who walked the earth, and that he told us to call Main Point: God father and that Scripture indicated that the Declared Holy Spirit appeared both as a dove and in
Iconoclasm tongues of fire, the actions of the Iconoclasts
to be heretical that forbade any portrayal of the members of the Trinity were contrary to church teaching
Since the split between the Roman Church and the Eastern churches in 1054, the Roman Church has held a number of Councils, most recently, Vatican II but the Eastern churches have held none until last month. Ten churches attended four (most notably Russia) did not. The Churches of the first seven councils believe firmly in a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost that are individual persons within a single Godhead and in Jesus Christ fully human and fully one of those three persons of the Trinity
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5. Christianity and Mary
The topic of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is a topic that has divided Christianity since the 18th century. We’ll look at some of the issues that have been raised about Mary and categorize them within Christianity
Jesus’ was born to the Virgin Mary
This is accepted by all catholic (Nicaean) Christians
Mary remained ever-virgin even after Jesus’ birth
This is accepted by all Catholic Christians and most of the Protestant Reformers. That began to change in the 18th century and today is rejected by most Protestants
Mary has a special place in Christianity because, as the first person to say “yes” to Jesus, she became the first Christian
This is accepted by all catholic (Nicaean) Christians. Though some denominations may downplay the issue, most accept it as biblically true
Mary was free from sin from the moment of her conception
This doctrine is called The Immaculate Conception. It is accepted by Roman Catholic Christians but not accepted by most of the remainder of catholic Christianity. It is true, however that most Christians accept what Mary says of herself in Luke’s gospel. “All generations shall call me blessed.”
Mary deserves to be worshipped as an equal to Jesus
This is officially rejected by all catholic Christians and was never part of any catholic Christian teaching. Mary can be considered the most important saint in Christianity but is simply a human being created by God
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